Jobs for the Future (JFF)

Get ready to disrupt traditional learning with the Education Sessions track at Horizons!  From groundbreaking teaching models to strategies for educational equity, we're sparking a wildfire of innovation in education through future-focused sessions.   Horizons summit is your catalyst for reshaping education through "The Power of Us." Register now before spaces run out! https://lnkd.in/er8kNDzu  #JFFHorizons #HorizonsOnLinkedIn #Education #HigherEd #Equity

As Congress debates opening #Pell to short-term training, states like Colorado, Indiana, and Washington are finding what makes a nondegree credential valuable in their labor markets. Can these actions by Democrats and Republicans lead to #NoDeadEnds? Yes, clarifying which credentials have value in the market is a win for all parties: States have a strong business environment, businesses get the talent they need, and workers gain in-demand skills and clearer career pathways. Workers and learners will need adaptable skills to thrive in our evolving economy, but many are stuck on linear paths set by our nation's outdated systems. The growing marketplace of short-term credentials offers solutions, but their reliability varies. We need policies to ensure the credentials that employers want are portable along pathways to economic advancement and that these credentials can break through the noise to serve learners better. Colorado's SB 24-143 adopts a framework for assessing the quality of nondegree credentials through four demonstrated metrics: demand, evidence of skills, employment outcomes, and “stackability.” These are critical measures that ensure programs are truly aligned with jobs in growing fields that offer opportunities for people to continue their education and advance along their career paths. Similarly, Indiana is revamping its credentials list by formulating tiers based on their relevance to high-wage, high-demand occupations and pathways to advanced education. The effort, spearheaded by the Indiana Department of Education, has grown out of many legislative efforts, including 2023’s HEA 1002, aimed at redesigning high schools to ensure more students are prepared for careers. Meanwhile, Washington's SB 6296 establishes a retail industry work group to shape credential pathways in the state’s retail sector. By engaging and organizing employers to standardize credentials and pathways, Washington is aligning competencies across the sector and providing #retail hiring managers with a universal signal for necessary skills and advancement opportunities for the state’s frontline workers. Together, let’s put an end to dead ends at school, at work, and in life. Read more and stay connected to JFF's No Dead Ends campaign: ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dQVRe-Gb Learn more about strengthening credential systems: ➡️ https://lnkd.in/d2cUyqcj ➡️ https://lnkd.in/d3xi-dUB #COLeg #INLegis #WALeg

Exciting Opportunity: Chief Operating Officer!  Do you have a passion for scaling businesses and driving operational excellence? We're searching for a talented and passionate COO to join our growing team at Jobs for the Future!  This is your chance to make a real impact. You'll lead day-to-day operations, oversee key departments, and develop strategic plans to help our CEO and leadership team drive JFF’s growth and efficiency.  Are you a results-oriented leader with a proven track record of success? We want to hear from you!  Here's what you'll do:  *Lead day-to-day operations for smooth business execution.  *Oversee key departments and foster a collaborative work environment.  *Develop and implement strategic plans to drive growth and efficiency.  Do you fit the bill?  Apply now https://lnkd.in/diDn6qWG and join our mission-driven team!  P.S. Share this post with your network. Someone you know might be the perfect fit! #Jobs #WeAreHiring #Hiring #JFFNorthStar 

The national pathways movement continues to gain momentum as leaders at all levels work to ensure young people have equitable access to and success in education-to-career pathways. To truly level the playing field, our systems must become more agile and responsive to the evolving demands of our economy. JFF is proud to partner with leaders at the national, regional, and local levels, including with the U.S. Department of Education's Unlocking Career Success (UCS) initiative, to support these efforts. Join us for an in-depth conversation with UCS leaders and regional representatives who have received funding through the UCS Career-Connected High Schools grant program. We'll discuss their work, the resources needed for regional-level implementation, and the complexities of system change at scale. Don't miss this opportunity to learn and engage with experts in the field >> https://lnkd.in/erpMkrdv #TransformWorkandLearning #ReimagineEducation #UnlockingCareerSuccess

🌟 This inspiring Forbes article highlights the transformative power of hiring people who are formerly incarcerated to lead postsecondary #prisoneducation programs. Rebecca C. Villarreal, senior director with JFF's Center for Justice & Economic Advancement, says it best: “Education in prison transforms lives, providing hope and opportunities that extend well beyond the prison walls.” 📰 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/e249CqFY 👏 We applaud our friends at Adams State University for their commitment to #NormalizingOpportunity and their dedication to ensuring learners who are incarcerated have access to high-quality education and access to quality jobs post-release. #fairchance #prisoned

Last week, our Pathways to Prosperity (PtoP) team joined the U.S. Department of Education Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) at the Unlocking Employer Pathways Summit. This event was a powerful call to action for industry leaders to support our young people in developing the skills and competencies needed to thrive in their communities and succeed in the future of work. A highlight was our very own Charlotte Cahill moderating a panel with PtoP Coalition partners Greater Houston Partnership and CityWorks DC focused on leveraging intermediaries to enhance college and career pathways. Let's continue to invest in our future and unlock career success for the next generation! To learn more about our work with PtoP and how you can get involved, follow the link >> https://lnkd.in/eK_nrfMa #TransformWorkandLearning #ReimagneEducation #UnlockingCareerSuccess

Today is a powerful day for JFF. Our own David Bradley is testifying before members of the U.S. Senate on how to strengthen the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA). With the U.S. labor market constantly evolving, JFF believes it’s time for lawmakers to overhaul the nation’s workforce development programs to become more agile, equitable, resilient, and innovative. David’s testimony will address the current labor shortages which are likely to persist as funding and policies for skills training and career navigation services are simply not keeping pace with the needs of workers and employers. From embracing the skills-first movement, to developing employer-driven training approaches, to designing more targeted services that help people connect to quality jobs, David will represent all of JFF in our call for Congress to make the kind of bold investments in the country’s education, workforce development, and economic development systems that will keep our economy strong and allow workers of all backgrounds to thrive. It’s time to change our antiquated systems that are causing dead ends for millions of people and offer the country’s learners, workers, and employers the kind of well-funded, equitable, easy-to-navigate, and effective education, skills development, and support systems they deserve. We are proud of you David Bradley, and grateful to all members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions Committee for welcoming JFF’s perspective. #WkDev #NoDeadEnds  #EducationReform #WorkForceDevelopment #EquitableWorkforce Please watch the full committee hearing and David’s testimony here: https://lnkd.in/e4XJYGzY

In today's rapidly evolving job market, having access to quality employment is crucial for the well-being of both learners and workers. Unfortunately, many face systemic obstacles to securing jobs with opportunities for advancement. Early talent solutions can help bridge this gap. The JFFLabs Youth Skills First Entrepreneurs-In-Residence Cohort incubated the solutions of six entrepreneurs focused on implementing skills-based talent strategies through youth apprenticeship. JFFLabs' Heather Terenzio recently sat down with two of them — Keegan Moldenhauer of Internship on Demand and Brianna Brazle, M.Ed., LPC of CultureLancer — to learn more about the work they're doing to empower young people and remove barriers to quality employment. Watch the full conversation: https://lnkd.in/eH4FmS4b | #YouthApprenticeship #Entrepreneurship #FutureofWork

🚀New Resource for Postsecondary Education in Prisons! 🚀 We're excited to share the final evaluation report of our Ready for Pell initiative! Funded by Ascendium Education Group, the initiative launched in 2021 with the goal to help colleges and universities build or expand postsecondary education in prison programs and navigate the reinstatement of Pell Grants, giving learners who are incarcerated new opportunities to attain postsecondary education and launch pathways to #qualityjobs and economic advancement. 📄Download the full report, prepared by our partners at RTI International, and discover how Ready for Pell has helped normalize educational opportunities for people who are incarcerated. Learn more about how colleges work with their internal and external partners to develop, implement, fund, and support high-quality and equitable postsecondary education in prisons. #PrisonEducation #Pell #JFFImpact #NormalizeOpportunity

The national pathways movement continues to gain momentum as leaders at all levels work to ensure young people have equitable access to and success in education-to-career pathways. To truly level the playing field, our systems must become more agile and responsive to the evolving demands of our economy. JFF is proud to partner with leaders at the national, regional, and local levels, including with the U.S. Department of Education's Unlocking Career Success (UCS) initiative, to support these efforts. Join us for an in-depth conversation with UCS leaders and regional representatives who have received funding through the UCS Career-Connected High Schools grant program. We'll discuss their work, the resources needed for regional-level implementation, and the complexities of system change at scale. Don't miss this opportunity to learn and engage with experts in the field >> https://lnkd.in/da_cgv-E #TransformWorkandLearning #ReimagineEducation #UnlockingCareerSuccess